Detail map of Ödeshög, Ödeshög V, Östergötlands län, Sweden Overview map of Ödeshög, Ödeshög V, Östergötlands län, Sweden

A: Ödeshög, Ödeshög V, Östergötlands län, Sweden

The First Written Swedish Literature

Circa 800 CE
The Rök Runestone, believed to be the earliest Sweedish writing, makes reference to Ostrogothic King, Theodoric the Great.

The Rök Runestone, believed to be the earliest Sweedish writing, makes reference to Ostrogothic King, Theodoric the Great.

The Rök Runestone (Swedish: Rökstenen; Ög 136), one of the most famous runestones, features the longest known runic inscription in stone. Preserved by the church in Rök (between Mjölby and Ödeshög, close to the E4 and Lake Vättern), Östergötland, Sweden, it is considered the first piece of written Swedish literature. The stone dates from about 800.

Timeline Themes